News Summary
The U.S. Coast Guard’s San Diego sector intercepted two boats carrying 17 migrants attempting to illegally enter the U.S. over the weekend. One vessel was found off Dana Point Harbor with seven Mexican nationals, while a second panga boat was discovered carrying 16 migrants. Both groups were taken into custody for processing amid investigations into the surge in maritime smuggling attempts. This follows a tragic incident where a migrant boat capsized, resulting in a fatality. The Coast Guard emphasizes the risks posed by such maritime migrations.
San Diego, California – The U.S. Coast Guard’s San Diego sector has intercepted two boats carrying a total of 17 migrants attempting to breach U.S. borders illegally. One incident occurred on Friday evening off the coast of Orange County, while the second occurred early Sunday morning.
In the first incident, a 24-foot cabin vessel was located approximately 2 miles south of Dana Point Harbor around 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Seven adults, all claiming Mexican nationality, were on board. The Coast Guard Cutter Sockeye crew detained the individuals and towed the vessel to the Orange County Sheriff’s Dock for further processing. The migrants were subsequently transferred to another Department of Homeland Security agency for investigation.
In a separate incident, a 25-foot panga boat carrying 16 migrants was intercepted by the Coast Guard around midnight on Sunday. The Coast Guard Cutter Active discovered this drifting vessel approximately one mile from its position. All individuals aboard the panga boat, who also claimed to be from Mexico, were taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol for processing.
Authorities are currently conducting investigations into both incidents. Additionally, on the same Sunday, the Coast Guard found an empty suspected smuggling boat on Sunset Cliffs, adding to the recent surge in migrant boat interceptions.
These two incidents follow a series of similar occurrences where migrant boats, primarily panga boats, have reached San Diego’s coastline. Earlier in the week, the Coast Guard intercepted another suspected human smuggling boat approximately 20 miles off the coast of Point Loma, with 21 migrants on board. Those individuals were also transferred to Border Patrol custody. In a separate event, 14 additional migrants were discovered on another boat earlier in the week.
Further complicating the situation, a boat carrying over a dozen migrants capsized as it approached the Ocean Beach surfline on Saturday. This tragic incident resulted in one fatality, a 57-year-old woman, along with multiple injuries. Marine Safety Lt. Brian Clark emphasized that migrant boats present significant dangers, not only to the migrants themselves but also to the responders attempting to assist them.
In response to the increasing trend of maritime smuggling attempts, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has reported that it has engaged in over 200 water-based smuggling attempts in the last three months. This includes collaborations with other law enforcement and safety agencies to tackle various modes of transportation utilized by smugglers, such as flotation devices, personal watercraft, recreational boats, and panga boats.
These recent interceptions and the ongoing investigations highlight the persistent challenge authorities face in managing illegal migration attempts via maritime routes along the California coast.
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Additional Resources
- Patch: Coast Guard Stops Boat Carrying 7 Migrants off Orange County
- NBC San Diego: Coast Guard Interdicts 13 Migrants off Point Loma Coast
- Fox 5 San Diego: Coast Guard Detains 13 Migrants on Boat off San Diego Coast
- Latin Times: Coast Guard Intercepts Sailboat Carrying Four Migrants
- Google Search: Maritime Smuggling California

Author: STAFF HERE CORONADO
The Coronado Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HERECoronado.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Coronado, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Coronado Island Film Festival, productions at Lamb’s Players Theatre, community workshops at John D. Spreckels Center, and iconic celebrations at Hotel del Coronado. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Coronado Chamber of Commerce and Visit Coronado, plus leading businesses in hospitality, dining, and tourism that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERESanDiego.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.